Food stamp cuts to kick in

Food stamp benefits are being reduced, and Congress is negotiatiating even further cuts to the $80 billion-a-year program.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Food stamp recipients are about to see a cut to their benefits.

More than 47 million Americans will see their benefits go down starting Friday. The cuts come as Congress begins negotiations on further cuts to the program.

Benefits fluctuate based on factors including food prices, inflation and income. The rolls have grown as the economy struggled in recent years. The 2009 economic stimulus provided higher benefits.

As a result, the program has more than doubled in cost since 2008, now costing almost $80 billion a year.

Negotiations on a wide-ranging farm bill, including cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, began Wednesday. But the House and the Senate are far apart on the amounts of the cuts.